Floral basket



July 6, 1954 A. A. GRUENHOLZ 2,682,971

FLORAL BASKET Filed June 2, 1950 INVENTOR. Andrew A. Gruenho /Z AZ orhegPatented July 6, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLORAL BASKET AndrewA. Gruenholz, Terre Hautc, Ind.

Application June 2, 1950,. Serial No. 165,712

This invention relates to a floral basket and it consists in theconstructions, arrangements" and combinations herein described andclaimed.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel construction ofconnecting means between a handle portion and the base of the flowerholding receptacle, which is of simple and sturdy construction.

More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide a flowerholding receptacle wherein the base is in the form of an invertedcupshaped member having a pair of diametrically positioned openingsthrough which respective rods of a handle member are disposed, the lowerends of the rods being formed with an annular kerf, receiving a c-ring.beneath the under surface of the cup member, thereby retaining the rodsagainst withdrawal, the receptacle having means for engaging anintermediate portion of the rods to provide a proper balance between therods and the receptacle to permit carrying thereof.

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention will beapparent from the following description considered in conjunction withthe accompanying drawing, wherein,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a floral basket 1 Claim. (01. 220-69)constructed in accordance with the invention, a

portion of the receptacle being broken away.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective View of the intermediate supportfor rod members of the handle.

Figure 3. is a fragmentary perspective view of the securing meansbetween the rods'of the handle and'the base of the receptacle.

Figure 4 is a cross section on the line Figure l.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the securing means betweenthe rods and the base or" the receptacle.

Figures 6 to 8 are fragmentary perspective views of modified forms ofthe intermediate support for the rods of the handle.

Attention is invited to Figure l of the drawing, wherein there is showna floral basket comprising a flower holding receptacle ll having aninverted cup-shaped base ii. The receptacle H is of watertightconstruction and the base I2 is rigidly connected thereto and is of adiameter greater than that of the receptacle so as to afi'ord amplesupport to the latter, especially when the receptacle is in use andsupports long stemmed flowers.

A handle 13 is employed in conjunction with the base and receptacle andcomprises a hand grip I4 and a pair of rods [5, the upper ends of whichlie in crossed relation to the member l4 and connected thereto by awrapping l6, thisv wrapping also securing the ends of a strand l1.entwined around the member I4 The rods also include a strand I'l'entwined thereupon, the strands terminating at points approximately theheight of the receptacle and secured as at IS.

The rods l4 and 15 are formed from stock dowel material and the strandsi1 and I1 may be formed from rattan, although plastic strands may beemployed and in the latter event, the basket may be made quiteornamental by the use of colored plastics.

Upon the rim IQ of the receptacle 9. pair of supports are securedpositioned at diametrically opposite sides of the receptacle, eachsupport being of L-shaped formation, the short leg 2| of which issecured to the inside wall of the receptacle, the long leg 22 extendingoutwardly beyond the periphery of the receptacle; Each leg 22 isprovided with an opening 23 of a diameter to receive a rod [5therethrough.

The base I2 is also formed with an opening 24 in alignment withrespective openings 23 of the support and likewise is of a diameter toreceive the lower end of the rods I5 therethrough as clearly shown inFigure 3.

The lower ends of the rods l5 are formed with an annular kerf 25 withinwhich a C-ring 26 is engaged, the ring 26 having a thickness so as tooverlie the openings 24 of the base [2 and thus retain the rods l5against withdrawal.

In assembling the handle upon the receptacle II, the rods 15 are passedthrough the openings 23 of the supports 20 and through the openings '24of the base I2. 'The rods It may be moved beyond the base line of thecup-shaped member [2 to present the kerf 25 at a convenient position tosecure the 0-ring 26 in the keri. The rods are then drawn upwardly so asto bring the rings into engagement with the underface of the base, whenthe basket may be carried as is customary. Obviously the handle [3 maybe readily released from the receptacle by removal of the C-rings 23from the kerfs 25.

In Figure 6, a modified form of support is shown in which the support 2|is of substantially Z- shaped formation, the leg 22 being orsemi-circular form adapted to partly embrace the rod !5', a C-ring 25being engageable about the rod and leg 22' to secure the two together.

In Figure 7 a further form of support is disclosed in which a rod 2'! iswelded to the exterior wall of the receptacle, the rod havingsemi-circular eyelets 28 into which respective terminal ends 29 ofstrands 30 are positioned. The strands 30 are secured to the rods [5 asat 3|.

The form shown in Figure 8 is adapted for use in connection with thesupport rod of Figure 7, and in this instance, a wire is bentintermediate its length to form a helix 32 forming an opening 33 throughwhich the rod I'5' may pass. The ends of the wire are bent at rightangles to the helix to form respective legs 34 adapted to engage in theeyelets 28.

While I have shown and described preferred forms of the device, this isby way of illustration only, and I consider as my own, all suchmodifications in construction as fairly fall within the scope of theappended claim.

I claim:

In a floral basket, a flower holding receptacle having an inverted cupshaped base member,

said receptacle being provided with an outer an- 4 of the receptacle,and a long leg extending outwardly over and beyond the head of thereceptacle, each of said long legs being provided with an opening forslidably receiving said rods, said base member being provided with apair of diametrically opposed openings for slidably receiving the lowerends of said rod, the openings in said base member being arranged inalignment with the openings in the long leg of said support members,each of said rods being provided with an annular kerf positioned withinsaid hollow base member, and a C-ring releasably positioned in each kerfand arranged below the upper surface of the base member, the diameter ofthe openings in the base member being less than the diameter of saidG-ring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,237,093 Priddy Aug. 14, 1917 1,655,147 Kramer Jan. 3, 19281,786,062 Gruenholz et al. Dec. 23, 1930 1,881,864 Nash Oct. 11, 19321,979,771 Potter Nov. 6, 1934 2,002,582 Potter May 28, 1935 2,456,355Aber 1 Dec. 14, 1948 2,592,692 Hattenbach Apr. 15, 1952

